Timeline

Sunset Totem Pole

 

Over one hundred years ago, a tribe of Pottawatomie lived on the shores of Big Fish Lake.  Their teepees, totaling near 75, were set up west of Indian Point and south into a clearing that is now covered with Norway Pine.  Little is left of their culture except perhaps the legendary Suz and Chief Silver Saddle - who campers hear about as they watch ghostly shadows dancing around the firelight.  

In the late 1870's a Norwegian emigrant by the name of Gunder Lia settled on two forties just to the east of where the Indian Village has stood.  The root cellar of his cabin and some of his apple trees are still landmarks of his time.  Even then the lake had already been christened with a new name as colorful as its original Indian name.  A nearby homesteader called it Kvella Laken (Lake of the Evening), but Gunder felt that Lia Lake was more picturesque, so he named it again.

Near the turn of the century, several forties around the lake were purchased by Peter Kiolbassa, a Polish leader from Chicago.  He changed the name to Lake Kiolbassa.  The name stuck until 1957, after its purchase by Wisconsin Lions Foundation, it became Lions Lake.  

 

The following is a chronological outline of the camp's history:

 

1956:

Resolution passed to purchase the camp, 240 acres for $18,000

Opening session for Visually Impaired Children - 26 attended.

1957:

Formal dedication of the camp

Dining Hall construction completed

Birches, Explorers, Frontiers, Lakewoods, Maples, Oakes,  Pioneers, Traders cabins constructed

1959:

Elms and Trailblazers cabins constructed

1960:

Property Manager's house and garage built

1961:

Memorial Building constructed

1964:

First year of Adult Visually Impaired Campers

40 acres on south side purchased

Director's cabin built

1966:

First Cognitively Disabled campers attend

First totem pole constructed

1967:

Boys and Girls bathhouses constructed

1969:

First Deaf/Hard of Hearing campers attend

20 acres purchased on north side

Duplex containing Handicraft / Health Lodge constructed

Hemlock and Pines cabins built

1971:

Hodags, Pathfinders, Ravens, Willows cabins are constructed

100 acres added to the north and west of main camp

1974:

Tamaracks cabin built

1976:

Tripping program began

1977:

Retreat and Conference Center made permanent  part of camp program

1978:

New Recreation / Storage building constructed

1979:

Nature lore program added

New $17,000 swimming pier

Paddleboats donated to begin new activity

1980:

Program began for Danish counselors

Lumberjacks cabin used as 11th boys cabin

1981:

Indian Hollow developed by Deaf/Hard of Hearing campers

Leadership program developed

Renovation of Health Lodge / Handicrafts

Additional boys bathhouse built

Hodge House built

1983:

Nature Center constructed

Totem Pole "NA-WAK-WA" constructed

1984:

Dry storage building constructed

1986: 

Pinewood Lodge constructed

1987:

Swimming area expanded

Ropes Course program added

Trading Post built

Dining hall expanded

1988:

Pinewood Lodge lower level completed

New Main Entrance Gate built

1989:

Phase I Lions Lake dredging

Nature Center completion and expansion

1991:

Memorial Building Office renovation

1992:

Memorial Building bathroom renovation

Wood Shed built

1993:

Regional Eyeglass Recycling Center built

1994:

40 acres purchased on south side

1997:

2 of 9 year-round duplex cabins completed

1998:

4 of 9 year-round duplex cabins completed

1999:

Climbing Tower built

Friends and Honor Memorial Garden completed

6 of 9 year-round cabins completed

Trading Post expanded

2000:

New Rope Swing installed

7 of 9 year-round duplex cabins completed

First children with diabetes attend

2001:

Completion of year-round duplex cabins

Pole shed built for new maintenance shop

Accessible walkway bridge constructed

Climbing Tower addition

Third Totem Pole constructed

2002:

Wisconsin Lions Foundation, Inc. offices move to Eyeglass Recycling Center.

2003:

Dining Hall renovation and expansion completed.

2004:

High Challenge Course renovated.

2006:

Music Program added

2007:

Construction on new Health Lodge complete

2008:

Addition to the High Challenge Course